Hello everyone, this is the first time I am posting here. I've done a search and have learned alot from a few related articles. Here's the deal. I'm bringing my shadow streetbike to a local dealer who's going to consider trading for a Trail Boss. I saw the bike only briefly, of course I'm going to check it out more in-depth now that I'm serious, but it looked brand new. I called the salesman after I left to get some more info on it, because he had originally told me it's a 2002 330cc. Now, we all know that prior to 2003, they were 325cc. So I'm hoping it's a 2003 330cc and he got the year wrong. It did have a front rack, strengthening my belief it's a '03. The bike is actually used, but traded back in, still with the fuzzies on the tires and with the remainder of the factory warrenty. I know how to tell the difference- the bumper, front rack, and big yellow "330" decal. But my question is, assume it's a 2002 OR a 2003, and please tell me what may be problematic with these bikes, I'll use the fuel fitting as an example. I'd also like to know what I can cheaply do to make it faster and more enjoyable to ride. I am trading for this bike, but what would you say is the going price for a slightly used bike like this? And what am I looking at getting for it a couple years down the road? Thanks!

 

The 325 and 330 are very reliable bikes. The 325 has some mods that really wake the machine like pipe,silencer,clutch kit air filter. The 330 is new so there are not many mods as of yet except a clutch kit. Both are very slow but ride real good,great suspension,comfy seat, and very trail ready. They did have a production date in the last part of 2002. I did ride a 330 in november for my wife. There are no problems to worry about on the trailboss. They did alot of upgrades on all the 2003,s. Maintenance is very little on the new ones. It wont be long before mods come to the market. If you want to get a bike that can be moded easily,cheap and have more power stock why not look at the Trailblazer250 or 400. There are tons of mods for them and they are very fun to ride. Just as reliable,not as heavy. You can probably get a new Trailblazer for the price that they are asking for the Trailboss. The 400 Trailblazer is awsome to.

 

Thanks for the reply. If the '03's have been out for a few months that makes my chances better of it being a 330cc. Personally I'm probably not going to mod it too much, been there done that when I raced motocross. The manufacturer claims the 330 comes with 10% more power than the 325, which is why I hope it's the 330. This is going to be a well needed replacement for the fourtrax 125 that I've got now. My mother will use it to pull a small trailer and go around the property lines on the farm. She has arthritis and has a hard time shifting. I'll use it to ride the trails with my girlfriend on the back. Maybe next year I'll buy a plow kit for it. So it needs to be somewhat of a compromise. I was never a fan of Polaris atv's. Actually, untill last week, I thought they suck. My opinion changed when I saw this one, it's basically $1200 less than the new price. I'm gonna try to trade even up for my streetbike. I do hear that polaris bikes have no resale value. If i plan on selling it off in a couple years, is this the wrong bike for me to do that with?

 

For the resale value it really depends on the area that you live in. Where I live Polaris is like the thing to get here. Resale is good here. A four stroke will allways get more resale out of it. Keep it in good shape and you should get a good resale from it. A 2000 Trailboss goes for about 2800 if in good shape around here. Polaris is the underdog. It is a very reliable brand. They got a bad rap in the past and people that dont own one thinks that the belt drive is junk. Polaris has come along way and the belt drive has been around for 25 yrs in snomobiles. So if they were junk it would not have the sales that they have now. They produce the top 4x4,s on the market, now have one of the top competitive race bikes and are only getting better. You cant go wrong with Polaris. It sounds like a good deal that he gave. And dont let the 10 percent power fool ya. 10 percent really is not that much on atv,s. If you take a 325 at 18hp, 10 percent of 18 is only 1.8 added hp. My tb stock is 22hp and with the mods that I have I almost double the hp. So dont let the 10 percent get in your head. I actually think that the 325 was faster than the 330. I have rode both many times and thats just my opinion. Go for it! You wont be dissapointed if you dont mind the speed. Everything else about is is good.

 

Do you think I can make this thing wheelie on flat ground or is it that much of a dog that the front wheels are glued to the ground? I'm just wondering how fast I'm going to be able to go through the trails if I can't pull the front end up over the logs and creeks. I know the struts will absorb alot but I think we all have nightmares of endoing over the bars of a 500+ lb. machine. An old theory of mine is to worry about getting the front through the nasties and just let the back axle follow. Thanks again!

 

It wont be a speed demon but the clutch kit will greatly improve the bottom end. I know that the 325 has mods that make it real quick and can easily pull the wheels up but untill the 330 has some mods getting the wheels up will require some manuvering from you. Why dont you want a Trailblazer? Just curiouse.

 

The deal is on this particular trail boss. I will be trading bike for bike, without spending any real cash. Believe me, I know I'd feel more at-home with a 'blazer, but the deal wouldnt work, I'd end up spending money. And in the long run, I'd be buying 2-stroke oil for the blazer, and if I'm not mistaken 2-strokes are worse on gas as well. When I was tuning my cr125 I remember them being real finicky, if I didnt have a fresh piston in there every 25 hours I'd start losing power and might even foul a plug. It was routine for me- park the bike in the garage and two hours later I'd have a new top end- and that was with liquid cooling. Granted there cant be much more than a bunch of bolts to get to the piston (and it's probably got more than one ring too) on the blazer seeing how it's air cooled, but I just cant spend the money right now, espesially on something that will benefit no one but myself.
So if I pull on the bars a bit will I be able to pop the front up on the boss, in stock form? And I guess the only real problem with these bikes is the fuel valve that likes to leak? I might make this trade tomorrow, seeing as how we're supposed to have snow on friday. The only thing that will keep me from it is if someone convinces me that these machines are bombs. I really appriciate all the information you've been giving me, I knew absolutly nothing about polaris until just a couple days ago. Thanks alot.

 

Hi I have read your posts and just wanted to add that I have a three month old trail boss and I really enjoy it. I can get approx. 40-50mph out of it and I plow with it. I feel that for the price you get a lot of bike. It is chaeper than most 250 bikes (maybe all) and has many features that make it competitave in the 300 to 400- class. I am very happy with mine.

 

Sounds like a great trade to me but I would trade a Honda street bike for any Quad and be glad to get rid of it.(I have been burned on them before)

 

Go for it. You wont regret it and where did you get the idea that the fuel valve leaks. Thats new to me. The Trailboss is a VERY reliable bike. Good luck!! And welcome to the underdogs.